News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Eurozone meeting on Greece

Eurozone finance ministers are preparing to meet in Luxembourg to discuss Greece's debt crisis. Negotiations between Athens and its international creditors remain deadlocked with the country's lenders insisting on further austerity measures and reforms. Both sides have been playing down any hopes of a breakthrough, amid rising concerns that Greece may default. But in an address to the German parliament, Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "still convinced" that a deal was possible.

World's displaced at record high

A new UN report says the number of people displaced by war, conflict or persecution reached almost 60 million last year, a record high. The continuing conflict in Syria is seen as a major factor behind the figures. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres says the international community is not doing enough to prevent conflicts: "the essential job is to stop this nonsense. And the truth is there is no longer the capacity of the UN, of the humanitarian organisations as a whole to respond to this staggering escalation of needs. There are simply not enough resources."

9 killed in US church shooting

In the US, 9 people have been killed in a shooting at an African-American Church in Charleston in South Carolina. Police are still searching for the gunman, a white male in his 20s. Local officials say they're treating the attack as a hate crime. Joe Riley is the Mayor of Charleston: "the only reason someone can walk into church and shoot people praying is out of hate - the only reason. It is the most dastardly act that one can possibly imagine. And we will bring that person to justice."

HK rejects Beijing poll plan

Legislators in Hong Kong have rejected controversial proposals put forward by Beijing which would change the way the territory chooses its leader. Several legislators walked out ahead of the vote. The reforms would have given China the right to vet candidates. The plan has sparked mass protests with critics calling it "fake democracy".

Danish voters go to the polls

Voters in Denmark are going to the polls in a general election which is expected to be very close. The centre-left coalition of Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt is facing a challenge from the centre-right opposition. The economy and immigration have been the main election issues.

Fenninger to stay with Austrian ski team

It’s been announced that the Austrian World Cup skiing champion Anna Fenninger is to remain part of the national team. The statement follows a dispute between the 26-year old and the Austrian Skiing Federation over its rules on training and sponsorship.

The weather

A bit of sunshine about, but it'll be mainly cloudy with some showers in the West. Highs ranging between 16 and 25 degrees.

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